Alumni Spotlight: Lynsey (Christensen) Moritz ’12
Clarke: As a student at Clarke, you were very involved in sustainability on campus. Has that work continued in your professional life?
Lynsey: Both professionally and personally, I have tried to continue to make conscious choices. It hasn’t necessarily been the “safe” or traditional route that one might imagine with a BFA in Graphic Design, but, honestly, I am pretty proud of every step I have taken throughout my career. Every part of my journey has aided in my own learning and overall growth. Some of the jobs I have held since graduating from Clarke include Vineyard Assistant for an organic biodynamic winery, a Farm Volunteer with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) in
New Zealand and Oregon, Social Media Marketing Manager for Mad Hippie – a vegan & cruelty-free skin care company, starting a small ceramic jewelry business with my mom, being a “Craft-Tender” at DIY BAR (and collaborating with them to lead a Zero Waste DIY class for Earth Day), working for a variety of restaurants that focus on local and seasonal food, and more! Currently, I am the Marketing & Outreach Coordinator for the Driftless Folk School and the Director of Brand Development (as well as a freelance writer) for Inspire(d) Media. I am also studying Herbalism and am in the beginning stages of starting my own herbal business! I truly believe that traveling and working a wide variety of jobs – with many unique and inspiring individuals – has made me a more well-rounded professional and person.
Clarke: Wow, it seems like you took Clarke’s idea of life-long learning to heart! What advice do you have for people who are considering changing their path in life?
Lynsey: People often say, “follow your dreams!” But, more often than not, they also want to have you fit nicely into the one version of you that they are comfortable with. My advice is to never do anything solely to satisfy or appease others. Do the things that fill your cup, excite your soul, push your comfort zone, and feel right to you in your gut! I came back to the Midwest during the Pandemic to sort of “restart and reassess” my life path and plant roots back in the Driftless Region. I know how it feels to be lost on your path, not being sure of the direction to take. Rather than feeling shame or stress surrounding these feelings of unease, let go of the reins a bit and trust the Universe. You never know what could be in store for you, and it could be even better than what you might imagine! Remember, nothing worth doing is easy. It might feel frightening, overwhelming, or lonely, but we can all do hard things. You will be proud once you’ve pursued and achieved the things you truly want in this one wild and precious life.
Clarke: What keeps you motivated as you move out of your comfort zone?
Lynsey: The work we do and the choices we make affect not only ourselves, but also the earth and everyone around us. I choose to work for places that might pay less than some big businesses, but they do much more meaningful and inspiring things. I don’t want to align myself with something or some place that I don’t agree with just to make a little bit more money. I strive to share and uplift the people and places that are making a difference. I believe you are allowed to have many lives within one lifetime. More than one career. More than one path. More than one moment. I keep reaching for those new opportunities and, more often than not, they have brought beautiful things into my life. Not just in my career, either. That includes things like proposing to my now-husband Dan on the summit of a mountain in Glacier National Park, building out a bus to be a home on wheels, or buying our first home and acreage together which we are working towards making a more self-sufficient homestead. The focus on my own health and wellbeing, the health and wellbeing of those around me, and the health and wellbeing of the earth keep me motivated.
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Lynsey! Do you know a member of the Clarke alumni community we should highlight? Submit your nominations for a future Alumni Spotlight by emailing alumnirelations@clarke.edu.
Interview edited for length and clarity.